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Spencer County board votes to solicit construction managers after high GC bids; will interview three pre‑vetted firms
Summary
Board approved a unanimous motion to use model procurement to solicit three pre‑vetted construction-management firms, authorize an interview committee and return recommendations in late August; the board also approved pay applications and authorized purchase of 106 Reeser Avenue for $235,000.
At the Aug. 13 work session, Mister Rucker told the Spencer County Board of Education the district’s initial round of general-contractor bids came in higher than expected and presented construction management (CM) as an alternative. "When we look at a construction manager model, it gives us the opportunity to really get into each and every single one of those contracts so we can see where all of our dollars are going," he said.
Rucker explained CM typically brings earlier involvement in preconstruction, the ability to break projects into multiple bid packages, and greater owner transparency and negotiating leverage. He cautioned that CM requires more district oversight and paperwork: "You're going to see all these change orders... it can often result in a little more paperwork," he said.
Doctor Foster (the board’s presenter for the item) recommended using model procurement to solicit three pre‑vetted construction managers through Sherman Carter Barnhart, assemble an interview committee, and return with recommendations for the Aug. 26 meeting so the district can repackage bids in September and seek bids in October. "Our goal would be... to solicit those 3 businesses, tell them what we're doing, and seek their proposals," Doctor Foster said.
The board approved the motion to use model procurement and to authorize Doctor Foster to form the interview committee; the chair called the vote unanimous. During the meeting the board also approved two pay applications/proposals (including a state-treasurer item and work for ELC HVAC drawings) and authorized staff to finalize the purchase of 106 Reeser Avenue in Taylorsville for $235,000 plus closing costs, with capital funds to be used for the acquisition. Doctor Foster asked that he and board chair Clevenger be authorized to set a closing date and complete the KDE capital-funds request. The motion to authorize the property purchase passed unanimously.
The presenters said the district plans to keep the current GC on the ELC project while trialing a construction-manager model on other campus projects so the district can 'test drive' both approaches. If the board moves forward with CM, the team anticipated repackaging design documents in September, reissuing bid packages in October and recommending awards in November.
Next steps: Doctor Foster will organize the interview committee, Sherman Carter Barnhart will be asked to engage model procurement, and the board will review candidate proposals and interviews in August with a recommendation expected at the Aug. 26 meeting.
